Title: The GameRating: PGWord Count: 1,009Warnings: AU, if you hadn't guessed that from the fact that it's a crossover. But at least one character would show you why it's AU.Summary: Buffy's about to face off with a warlock intent on killing her. Sam isn't letting it happen without him.Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Supernatural. They belong to Joss Whedon and Eric Kripke.Author's Note: This isn't a full fic, it's actually just one scene that will very likely become part of something longer. But I didn't have time to write the full thing out or to write a fully chapter so this will have to do. Think of it as a sneak peek. Written for tamingthemuse (prompt: danger zone).

I used the prompt more as a theme this time.

Buffy ran, pushing herself to go faster, to not look back. She didn’t know what she’d see if she did and she didn’t want to know.

She didn’t have her powers here.

She was helpless here.

Behind her, she could hear the snapping of twigs and she winced as she felt a cramp in her side. He may be a powerful warlock but he was also a man. Just a man with weaknesses.

Hearing the river flowing ahead of her, she pressed a hand to her side as if that would get rid of the pain and pushed herself to go harder.

And weaknesses could be played upon.

~*~*~

Sam stared down at Buffy’s still body, wondering what the hell had gone wrong.

It was just a game, a board game that they’d played hundreds of times before but now it was different. Now it was what held Buffy.

His eyes hardened. No, that was wrong. It wasn’t the game that had Buffy. It was Damian.

He turned to look at where Willow stood. “Put me in there.”

Even as Dean protested, Willow shook her head. “I can’t, Sam,” she said, her voice soft. “I’m powerful but I’m not that powerful.”

“Sam, you can’t go in there.”

Sam turned to look at Dean. “Why not?”

For a moment, Dean looked like he wasn’t sure what to say and Sam knew that he was searching for an answer. “It’s too dangerous.” The look on his face said that Dean knew exactly how Sam would respond to that.

“And that’s bullshit,” Sam snapped. “If it was me, would you stay? If it was Fred, would you stay here? Would you just sit here and wait?”

Dean stared at him for a moment before speaking, never taking his eyes off of his brother. “Get him in there, Willow.”

She shook her head again. “I wasn’t just trying to talk him out of going, Dean. I’m really not that powerful. I’d need help.”

From her spot next to Dean, Fred frowned and bit her lip. “Will they help though? They usually try to stay out of this sort of thing, don’t they?”

“They’ll help if we go grab a few and drag ‘em back here,” Dean muttered.

“There is no need for that, Mr. Winchester.”

Everyone turned and looked at the door, staring at the three women standing there. The one in the front glanced at Willow and her blue eyes warmed a bit. “Willow.” She nodded at her. “What happened?”

“You’ve heard of Damian?” Willow asked.

The second, a young woman with hair that was lighter than Spike’s hair had ever been, scowled. “We do. He bends the laws of magic to his will. It’s been years since we’ve seen a warlock that was as dark as he.”

“He has her,” Sam told them. Their gazes snapped towards him and if it’d been any other circumstances, Sam might have found it a bit funny at how synchronized the move was. They looked down at Buffy and frowned.

“This should not be possible,” the third woman said, a bit of anger flashing through her eyes.

“He goes too far,” the second agreed.

“Indeed,” the first woman added. She turned to Sam, eyes dark. “We’ll send you in there. But only you.”

Even as Sam nodded, Dean frowned. “Hell no. Send all of us. That’s plenty of back up and protection for the both of them and we can take Damian out.”

“We can’t successfully send all of you and guarantee safety for all. By sending only Samuel, we guarantee his safety while he is there and the safe return of him and Buffy.”

Dean let out a breath and nodded. “Then do it.”

An understanding smile crossed the third woman’s face. “It is a fine thing to always want to protect one’s family,” was all she said before joining Willow and the other two women next to the bed.

“You’ll have to lay down, Sam.” Willow nodded towards the bed. “And keep a hold of Buffy’s hand. We don’t want you getting lost and ending up somewhere other than where we’re trying to send you.”

Sam nodded and stretched out on the bed, letting go of Buffy’s hand only long enough to wrap his arm around hers before taking her hand once more. He exchanged a look with Dean and nodded, mouth tilted slightly up, at the silent order.

Don’t get yourself killed and you damn well better come back.

He closed his eyes and listened as the chanting got stronger. When he opened them, he was surrounded by trees. It had worked. Without wasting any time, Sam began to move.

He needed to find Buffy.

~*~*~

Buffy grunted as she dove, avoiding the rocks tumbling down towards her. “That shouldn’t have happened,” she muttered.

“You’re right.”

She turned and watched as Damian walked closer to her. He didn’t look anything like the warlocks in movies. No, he was blond and blue-eyed and he was definitely a bit of a hottie. He smiled at her and she scowled.

“Changing the game to do what you want?” She crossed her arms. “You must not be too sure you’ll win if you have to cheat to even have a chance.”

There was a flash of anger in his eyes before his expression smoothed out into a smirk. “It’s not cheating. I’m merely changing things a bit for my own amusement.” He inclined his head. “You’re quite entertaining. Your death will be more so.”

Buffy raised an eyebrow. “My death isn’t something you should count on. Bigger and badder demons have tried and failed.”

He sneered. “I’m no demon, Slayer. And your death is a fact and something that is unavoidable.”

“Don’t bet on it.”

They turned to find Sam walking into the clearing and Buffy’s eyes widened before she grinned a bit. Damian looked interested as he watched Sam’s progress towards Buffy.